National Seashore, north end of Padre Island

Seagulls and Pelican in flight

Lots of pelicans and seagulls

Long billed Curlew wadding along the gulf shore

Sea turtle and eggs in exhibit at the National Seashore museum.

South Padre Island

Unlike the north end of Padre Island the south end is very developed

with high-rise condos and many motels.

Sailboat in harbor

Our motorhome taken from the balcony of the bathhouse. The gulf and beach are in the background but not visible from the motorhome since there are 15 to 20 foot sanddunes all along the beach here. The dunes block the view but thankfully not the sea breeze that we enjoy in the evenings.

We are here in south Texas at the Mustang Island State Park. Had planned on doing some surf fishing but the weather and water have not cooperated with the extreme heat and murky water.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

One of the few seabirds we saw . . . most have migrated for the summer.

However we are told that this is an excellent bird watching area during the winter months.

New overlook under construction taken from the old overlook. . .

the wetland with Gulf of Mexico in the distance.

Tug and tow going through the intercoastal waterway.

The deer in the area are plentiful but not very big.

Rockport small boat harbor . . . one of many in the area.

The beach at Rockport . . . another windy day.

Rockport Maritime Museum

As we moved through the museum Francis found an outboard

just like his of long ago . . . a 22 hp Johnson

Scale model of an offshore drilling rig

Scale model of the La Belle on display at the Rockport museum

Ocean life raft

If there is an airplane in the area Francis will find it. Here is one of the original Blue Angels.

Docked at Corpus Christi, TX is the USS Lexington.

On a side trip we visited Goose Island State Park. This large oak tree is said to be over 1000 years old and is called "Big Tree."

During the time we were at Maumelle the local school district has an in-service for teachers of Arkansas history. The exhibits were very interesting, included were civil war encampments, early cooking and household, mussel loading, and this scale model of a keel boat.

While at Maumelle we had a family camp. Here are our girls, Francis and the grandchildren.

Sunset on the Arkansas River at the Corps of Engineers park called Maumelle, Little Rock, AR

Our motorhome at the Salado rest area.

June, 2009

The first night out of Batesville we stayed in the rest area at Salado Creek. An extremely nice rest area that allows overnight stays.

Annaleigh and her Mom

Our time in Batesville is up (school's out) so we will be heading down the road tomorrow, June 6, with a stop in Little Rock at one of our favorite Corps parks. We will be at Maumelle until June 26 then head south to Mustang Island State Park just out of Port Aransas, Texas. Will be hosting there for a few months then who knows which way the wind will blow us.

Annaleigh and her new afghan. Think she likes it.

This must have been an escaped pet.

Tried several times to get into the motorhome.

Spent the day in the area and then disappeared.

Animals in the RV park are much smaller than those in Alaska.

Annaleigh at 7 months

Wish I was half this limber.

Feb. 9 Francis had foot surgery

and for the next 3 months was not allowed to put any weight on the foot.
Was really glad when he could start walking again.

Ice Storm

The Mead Farm is hit by ice storm that paralized northern Arkansas.

February, 2009

2009 found us still in Batesville, Arkansas where little snow falls but ice storms can be vicious. These shots are at our daughter's farm in Concord. North of this area was even harder hit with power outage up to two weeks.

Four Generations of Jacksons

South Louisiana Sunset

Cajun style residence. This is a newer home but of the old style. One difference would have been the "dog path" thru the center for air circulation

Christmas 2009 Trip to South Louisiana

Another beautiful old Catholic Church and cemetery in South Louisiana with most of the graves above ground due to the water table being just below the ground.

December 2008 Activity

Francis' cousin Bobby Louise and Bill retired from Texas A&M to the 100 year old family home in Clay, Louisiana. Still an active farm raising hay and cattle. Lots of work for retired folks.